Car loading device for ballast cleanings



C. A. GlLL CAR LOADING DEVICE FOR BALLAST CLEANINGS March 19, 1940.

Filed Sept. 16, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 19, 1940. C, A G|1 L 2,194,144

CAR LOADING DEVIKCE FOR BALLAST LEANING March 19, 194Q. i c. A.G|| l I A' 2,719,4,1'44

CAR LOADING DEVICE FoR BALLAST -CLEANINGS Filed sept. 16, 1937 vSimtel-sheet s Y l mi? v o o F .In

March 19, 1940. c. A. GILL 2,194,144

CAR LOADING DEVICE FDR BALLAST CLEANING-S I Filed Sept. 16, 193'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 19, 1940 UNITED sTATss PATENT lOFFICE CAR LOADING DEVICE FOR BALLAST CLEANINGS Charles A. Gill, Reading, Pa. Application September 16, 1937, Serial No. 164,215

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a car loading device for use with a ballast excavator and screening machine.

It is an object of the invention to provide a Adevice to receive the dirt screened out of railway ballast by a machine that screens the ballast and returns the clean ballast to the right of way; to convey the dirt thus screened to a following car; and to fully load the car with'the dirt.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a. device of the character referred to which, utilizing a conveyor iixed in place on a car, will fully load the car from end to end, and which may be operated with either end adjacent the ballast" cleaner.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an elevating conveyor especially adapted to the service. l

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawings showing illustrative embodiments of the invention and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view diagrammatic in character of a structure embodying the inven- Fig. 2 is a section on broken line 2-2 of Figure 3, upon an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the dirt re- .u ceivlng and elevating conveyors; y

Fig. 4 is a detail section on line 4-4 of Figure 3, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure of Fig- A ure 3; s Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section on line 6 6 of Figure 5;

Fig.l 7 is a plan view of a dirt-receiving car and loading conveyor, broken away to decrease its length; and

Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation of the structure of Figure 7, with portions broken away.

The device of the present invention is designed to operate upon the dirt removed from railway ballast by the device disclosed in applicants copending application, Serial No. 116,174, led 'December 16, 1936, the present application being a continuation in part of said prior application.

As shown in the said prior application the excavating machine is mounted on the car I0 shown herein and has means to deliver the excavated material to the screen I I; means to shake the screen by movement on rollers I2, I3; and means to drive the car I0 through shaft I4,

u Figure 5. The clean ballast passes from the end of the screen Ill to be returned to the right of way.

Dirt passing through the screen falls into hopper I5 of boot I5', Figure 6, by which it is delivered to transversely placed elevating conveyor 5 I6 comprising buckets I1 which delivers to elevating conveyor I8.

The elevator I8, mounted on car I0, projects rearwardly to overhang a dirt car I9 and delivers, as shown, to a hopper carried by a screw con- 10 veyor 2l xedly mounted on car I9 by'means of struts 22, and is placed in a somewhat diagonal position because the conveyor I8 is out of center on car I0. A hopper 20 is provided at each end of conveyor 2l in order that the car I9 may be 15 loaded from either end. y

To load the car I9 from end to end by means of the simple screw conveyor shown, the bottom of the trough of the conveyor is formed with an open slot, as shown, from the point 23, Figures 20 'l and 8, to the point 24. The altitude of the conveyor above the car is so chosen that the expected angle of repose of the dirt will cause the car to be substantially completely lled to the upper edges of its sides. The points 23 are 25 likewise so chosen with relation to the end closures of the car. The result of this structure is that the dirt will spill through the loading end of the slot until it piles up to close the first portion of the slot, thus in effect forming a bottom of the conveyor trough, which closure will progress along the conveyor until the car is completely loaded. The car I9 is desirably a dump car of any preferred type.

To drive the conveyors of the device a drive shaft 25 is shown driven by bevel gears 26 and controlled by clutch 2l. The gears 26 are desirably driven by the mechanism which causes oscil lation of the screen II.

To drive the transverse elevating conveyor I6, a sprocket wheel 28 is shown ilxed on shaft 25, about which sprocket wheel chain 29 passes to drive sprocket 30, fixed on the upper shaft 3l of conveyor I6.

To drive conveyor I8, shaft 32, driven by angle gears 33 from shaft 25 is shown extending parallel with the conveyor to drive the upper shaft 34, through bevel gears 35.

To drive conveyor 2|, a shaft 36 is shown driven through universal joint 3l, by spur gears 50 38 from shaft 32. The connection between shaft 36 and the shaft of conveyor 2I is shown as a splined telescopic joint 39 and universal joint 4B. The universal joint 40 and female splined socket for joint 39 is applicable at either end of 55 the shaft of conveyor 2| in order that the said conveyor may be connected to drive shaft 30 at either end and the car I9 will never need to be turned by a turn table in order to be loaded. When the car I9 is disconnected for dumping the squared or splined socket 38 will be automatically released from the shaft of conveyor 2| and as readily again coupled, or a spare car equipped with a conveyor,2| may be substituted.

It is obviousfthat a screw conveyor may be utilized for' eitherJ or each of conveyors |6 and I8. As shown-*ab'elt conveyor is utilized comprising the belt 4I, provided with flights 42 on its car rying surface and guides 43 on its inside surface. The head and tail shaft and roller assembly is shown in section in Figure 4 comprising the roller 44, shaft 45 and roller bearings 46 supported on the angle frame members 41, 48. Said frame members are shown as supported on standards 40 and by braces 50, 5|, carried by the car l0. Means to adjust the tension of the belt are shown at 52, Figure 3, the shaft of the tail roller being slidably mounted, as usual with belt conveyors, for this purpose.

The upper intermediate guide rollers 53, and the return flight or lower intermediate guide rollers 54 are formed as shown in the sectional view Figure 2, also supported in roller bearings carried by the angle members 41, 48. To pass the guide members 43, the rollers 44, 53 are each formed with circumferential grooves 56 which guide members passing through the grooves preserve the proper centering of the belt. The flights 42 are accommodated by the circumfercntial grooves, or recesses, 51 (Figure 2) in the lower guide rollers 54.

A boot 58, Figures 3 and 6, is provided at the tail of the conveyor I8, shown as supported by the angle frame members 59 of conveyor I6, Rubber skirts 60 are shown at the lower side edges of the boot 58 hanging closely adjacent the surface of belt 4|.

To prevent escape of material from the flattening upper end of the belt 4|, straps 6| are .fzfiown supported by members 62 secured to the frame members 41, 48, and rubber skirts 63 are shown hanging from the straps 6I and overlying the belt.

To support the shaft 36 when a car I9 is uncoupled, a hook 64 is shown carried by frame member 41. The slip joint 38 has sufficient play to allow for yielding of the car coupling in buff or stress.

The operation will be clear from the above de- Fcription. Minor changes may be made in the details of the invention from those shown, Within the scope of the following claims, without departin@ from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. Car loading apparatus for use with a ballast excavating and screening machine comprising in combination: a screening Car to carry the screen ing apparatus; a dirt car to be coupled thereto; a conveyor mounted on said screening car and projecting to overhang the dirt car; a second conveyor mounted on the screening car located to receive the dirt passing through a ballast screen. and to deliver the same to the first named conveyor; a distributing conveyor mounted on the dirt Car to receive dirt from the first named conveyor; a primary drive shaft to drive the first named conveyor; means to drive the second named conveyor from said drive shaft; means to drive the distributing conveyor from said primary drive shaft; readily separable connecting means in said last named drive means to enable the dirt car to be easily separated from the screening car; and means to drive said primary drive shaft.

2. Car loading apparatus for use with a ballast excavating and screening machine comprising in combination: a screening Car having screening apparatus and a drive shaft mounted thereon; an elevating conveyor mounted longitudinally thereon projecting to overhang a car attached thereto to convey dirt screened from ballast; a shaft mounted on and parallel with the frame of said elevating conveyor and extending to the upper end thereof; means applied adjacent the lower end of the last named shaft to drive the same from said drive shaft; means to drive said elevator from the upper end of said parallel shaft; and drive shaft means having driving connection with an intermediate portion of said parallel shaft, including a universal joint and a splined socket to be connected to loading conveyor means on ,s aid attached car.

3. Car loading apparatus for use with a ballast excavating and screening machine compris ing, in combination: a railway car to carry the screening apparatus; a conveyor mounted on said car and projecting therefrom to overhang a car coupled thereto; a car to be so coupled; a distributing conveyor carried by the last named car provided with a receiving hopper at each end; drive means carried by the first named car geared to drive the first named conveyor; a drive shaft geared to said drive means projecting over the space between the cars when coupled together; a slip joint coupling driven by said drive means; a complemental slip joint coupling associated with each end of said distributing conveyor whereby said second named car may be operatively coupled at either end with said drive shaft.

4. In a device of the class described: a railway car equipped to be coupled at either end to a car loading device; a distributing conveyor mounted on and above said car, extending longitudinally thereof; drive means at each end of said conveyor to be coupled to drive means on said loading device, said drive means comprising one portion of a slip joint connection; a screen car provided with means to be coupled to either end of the first named car; ballast screening apparatus mounted on said screen Car; conveyor means carried by said screen car positioned to receive dirt screened from ballast as it passes through said screening apparatus, and extending to deliver to the conveyor on the first named car; and power means on said screen car connected to actuate said screening apparatus, said dirt receiving conveyor, and a second portion of a slip joint connection to be connected to either of said first named connections.

5. In a de vice of the class described: a railway car equipped to be coupled at either end to a car loading device; a distributing conveyor mounted on and above said car, extending longitudinally thereof; a receiving hopper at each end of said conveyor; drive means at each end of said conveyor to be coupled to drive means on said loading device, said drive means comprising one portion of a slip joint connection; a screen car provided with means to be coupled to either end of the first named car; ballast screening apparatus mounted on said screen car; conveyor means carried by said screen car positioned to receive dirt screened from ballast as it passes through said screening apparatus, and extending to deliver to the conveyor on the first named car; and power means on said screen car connected to actuate said screening apparatus. said dirt receiving conveyor, and a second portion of a slip joint connection to be connected to either of said first named connections.

6. In a device of the class described: a railway car equipped to be coupled at either end to a car loading device; a screw conveyor and trough therefor mounted on and above said car and extending longitudinally thereof; said trough having a longitudinal slot in its bottom; a receiving hopper mounted on each end of said trough; a drive connection at each end of the shaft of said screw conveyor either of which may be connected with a drive connection carried by the loading device, said `drive means comprising one portion of a slip joint connection; a screen car provided with means to be coupled to either end of the rst named car; ballast screening apparatus mounted on said screen car; conveyor means carrie'd by said screen car positioned to receive dirt screened from ballast .as it passes through said screening apparatus, and extending to deliver to the conveyor on the rst named car; and power means on said screen car connected to actuate said screening apparatus, said dirt receiving conveyor, and a second portion of a slip joint connection to be connected to either of said first named connections.

CHARLES A. GILL. 

